DescentBB

The American people are not the only ones who want a timetable for withdrawl, the Iraqi Government wants a withdrawl table as well. The thing is, presidential hopeful John McCain is not responding to the Iraqi's want for us to withdrawl as they would hope:
\"The U.S. will withdraw its troops from Iraq “with honor, not according to a set timetable,” John McCain said today, in response to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki issuing a statement that said the two countries should “put a timetable on their withdrawal.\"

The current Bush government also rejected this idea, despite the wishes of the Iraqi government, the one we keep saying is to be supported (apparently even against their wishes).

So, the Iraqi government wants us out, can we go now? If we don't wouldn't that kind of go against the sovereignty of their country and laws? What basis would we have to be in there?

EDIT: Fixed my statement \"What basis do we have to be in there?\", replacing \"do\" with \"would\"

I understand your point, but he also says he has had meetings with him and based on those meetings the intent is a timed withdraw after the ground is secure, not right now.

So who decides if \"the ground is secure\"?
If you stay past the welcome of a democratically elected government aren't you an occupation force? If you recognize the Iraqi government as legitimate then shouldn't you respect their wishes and go when asked? It is a pretty shallow claim to be \"helping the Iraqi people toward freedom\" when you won't cease occupying their territory don't you think.

Maybe we could work out a deal, like leasing them military support or something? Just trying to think of some middleground ideas.

MD-1118 wrote:Maybe we could work out a deal, like leasing them military support or something? Just trying to think of some middleground ideas.

Selling the Iraqi Government military arms would actually be a decent thought...

Ford Prefect wrote:So who decides if "the ground is secure"?
If you stay past the welcome of a democratically elected government aren't you an occupation force? If you recognize the Iraqi government as legitimate then shouldn't you respect their wishes and go when asked? It is a pretty shallow claim to be "helping the Iraqi people toward freedom" when you won't cease occupying their territory don't you think.

John McCain said and I quote:

“We will be able to withdraw with honor, and I am sure that it will be dictated by the situation on the ground,” McCain said. “I’m confident that is what Prime Minister Maliki is talking about, since he has told me that for the many meetings we have had."

They are discussing it, it has not been rejected.

Dakatsu wrote:the Iraqi government wants us out, can we go now?

a spokesperson wrote: Ali al-Dabbagh said any timetable would depend on "conditions and the circumstances that the country would be undergoing." But he said a pullout within "three, four or five" years was possible.

"It can be 2011 or 2012," al-Dabbagh said. "We don't have a specific date in mind, but we need to agree on the principle of setting a deadline."